Car-coupling



I UNrrn-n States Parenti* cAR-oouPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,652, dated October 8, 1895.

Application flied Auguste, 1894.. sedano. 519,794. (Nomade.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, FRANZ WALDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Streator, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Oouplers; and I do hereby declare the following to be aV full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel construction in a car-coupler, the object being to provide a car-coupler in which the coupling-pin can be readily held in position and allowed to drop when the link of a companion coupler enters the drawhead and without manual aid.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a longitudinal vertical section of a car-cou pler constructed in accordance with my invention and taken on the line 1 l of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of a car provided with a coupler constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 4E is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 4t 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to said drawings, 1 indicates a car, and 2 the draw-head. Exteriorly said draw-head is of familiar construction and is secured to the bottom of the car in a familiar manner and provided with the buffer 3. The forward end of the draw-head is provided with a horizontal partition 5, which divides the opening in the end of the draw-head in two parts 6, located one above the other, so that the link of the companion coupler can enter either of said openings,'according to its elevation. The said partition 5 is rounded or tapered at its forward end to detiect the link 7 into either of the openings. The said partition 5 extends rearwardly about half the length of the draw-head, as shown in Fig. 1, and from the rear end of this partition and on the side walls of the draw-head-are two ribs or guides 8, located in alignment with the partition, as shown in Figs. l and 2. Located within the draw-head is a follower 9, thatconsists of two arms l0, that are located within the respective openings 6 Vof the draw-head and are connected in the rear of the partition 5, as shown in Fig. 1, the whole being preferably cast integrally, while the rear end of said follower is p rovided with guide-grooves vthat receive the guides S. In this way it'will'be seen that the follower can slide back and forth withinthe drawl1ead,and to limit the movement of the same I provide upright slots 12 in said arms 11, through which a pin 13 passes that is secured to the top and bottom pieces of the draw-head. Near the rear end of the draw-head and extending across the same are two pins 14, and between these pins and the rear end of the follower springs 15 are located, which, acting by expansion, hold the follower under tension at the forward limit of its movement. When the follower is at the forward limit of its movement, the arms 11 cover the opening 16, through which the coupling-pin passes, said opening 16 extending, of course, through the partition 5, as shown in Fig. 1.

I have shown in Fig. 1 the parts of my coupler and the position they will assume when the coupling is to be made-that is to say, with the follower at the forward limit of its movement and the pin 17 located within the opening 16 at the upper side of the draw-head and resting upon the upper arm 11 of said follower. As the link 7 approaches and enters the opening in the draw-head it will engage the forward end of one of the arms of the follower and force the same to the rear against the tension of the springs 15, as shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 1, and when the end of the link passes the end of the pin 17 said pin will drop into position, as will be obvious. I have also provided convenient devices for lifting the pin and holding it in an elevated position. Said devices consist of a lever 18, pivoted upon the front end of the car and having its inner end connected, preferably, by a chain 19 with the upper end of the pin '17. To the side of the car a holding-plate 2O is secured, having two stops 2l and 22, with either of which the free end of the lever can be engaged. For instance, if it is desired to prevent the pin from dropping, the free end of the lever can be hooked under the lower stop 21, which will hold the pin in an elevated position, as shown, while, on the other hand, if the free end of the lever is moved up and engaged with the upper stop 22, the other end of the lever will IOO be so depressed as to permit the pin to descend. The car may be provided with these levers on both sides, whereby the coupling, as well as the n ncoupling, canbe accomplish ed from the other side of the car, as will be obviens, for it is only necessary to pull down the free end of the lever to lift the coupling-pin.

From the foregoing description it Will be seen that I provide an inexpensive and durable car-coupler which obviates the necessity of the switchman standing in front of the end of the car to set the pin, to uncouple the car, or to drop the pin. It will also be seen that my invention can be applied to the ordinary carcouplers now in use on freight-cars by inserting a spring 15 and single arm 11 ltherein and inserting a pin 13 through the slot 12 in such arm.

I claim as my invention- In a car coupler the combination with the car, of a longitudinally movable draw-head having two link-sockets separated by a horizontal -partition 5, a longitudinally movable follower within the draw-head having two parallel and longitudinally extending arms adapted to Work within the respective linksochets, said arms being slotted vertically and longitudinally, a stop pin extending vertically through the draw-head, through the partition therein, and through the slotted arms of the follower, a spring to press the follower forward, and a coupling pin Working vertically through the draw-head, the parts being constructed and arranged to sustain thecoupling pin in its elevated position and to permit the follower to be pressed back to release the coupling pin.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANZ WALDMAN. Witnesses:

CARL REINHARDT, THEO. ROCKENFELLER. 

